Internal-combustion engine



H. A. BUITLARD' :maaruh coMBusTIoN ENGINE ,lum M1929.

2, 191g :5 sheets-sheet :s

original' Filed Aug.

M n m. 5

INVENTOH A TTORNEY Reissued i June 18, 1929.

U-Niri.-:DY s'rAras-v Re. 17,3ze .PATENT oFFic.

HERBERT A. BULLARD, OF SYRACUSE, `'NEVI' YORK, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO ROTARY MOTORS COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

i INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINE.

Original No. 1,618,806, dated February 22, 15127, Serial No. 314,882, led ugust 2, 1919. Application for I reissue filed February 21,

, high eliiciency permits of a considerablemduction in weight per horse power developed.

With this end in view, my new rotary enginel comprises, Vas one of its features, two rotors which are mounted eccentrically one within the other and operatively connected to rotate together and a plurality of radially disposed varies which are mounted in the rims of the rotors by hinge joints permitting a sliding movement of the vanes through the rim of one or both of the rotors and which subdivide i the enclosed crescent-shaped space `formed between the rotors into a'series of contracting and expanding explosion chambers. These rotary partsmay be conveniently mounted in a cylindrical casing, the inner rotor preferably concentric with and the outer rotor consequently eccentric to the casing, which 'thus forms between its walls and the outer rotor an enclosed crescent-shaped spaceoppositely disposed. to that formed between the two rotors, into which the outer ends of the varies extend. and which provides in its heads suitable inlet and exhaust ports for the explosion chambers. I thus obtain a well-balanced `engine and auxiliary v fan, in: which sliding frictional contact between the parts is almost entirely eliminatedand which,v wit-l1 running clearances of from three to `live-thousandths of an inch, is free running, lends itself to easy and complete lubrication, and reduces loss by leakage back or slip to a mini mum since such leakage as takes place is from one toan adjoining chamber where it still doesgiis'eful work; and by vspraying the fuel v'intoflshe explosion chambersthrough a needle sure I amable to dispense with the usual carburetor-,fwliile no muiiler is requiredy since the products of combustionare exhausted chamber after beingexfrom the 'explosion ive lor other suitable 'injector ata point in.

1929. Serial N'o. 341,856.

panded therein toV substantially atmospheric pressure.

As another' feature, I provide a tank filled with air or other inert gas under pressure which is so connected through a suitable valve cooling and scavenging system by which 'air drawn in throu h the heads of the casing to the center of t e inner rotor is forced out-y wardly through the hollowr vanes into the closed space between the outer rotor and the caslng where it is further compressed by the vanes and utilized toiscavenge the explosion chambers successively, at the point of exhaust. Still'another feature is provided by a con? struction which at the proper moment in their revolution allows a flash-back of the fuel -charge exploded in one chamber into the next succeeding chamber to ignite the 'charge therein. thus requiring the use of a spark plug, one which can be operated by a dry battery or by a plain magneto without commutator, only for starting the engine.

The invention also embraces the other novel features of form, arrangement. and combination of parts hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will be understood by ret-I.

erence to the accompanying drawings wherein is shown by way of illustration, an engine embodyin,` all 'of the diil'erent" fea-tures men iionerl, and in whicli- Figure l is a View of the engine in front elevation,` with parts. broken awa 'to show the interior partly in elevation an partly in section; Fig. 2 a section on the broken line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Figs. 3, 4,'and 5, sectional da tails of the control valve on the lines 3 3, d il, and 5v 5 of Fig. 2, respectively, showing the valve closed; Fig. 6,*ajbroken detaiLin longitudinal section ofthe needle valve employed as an injector at each-of the four fuel inlet ports; Fig. 7 a perspective view of one of the vanes, part-l broken away, and of one of and run the engine in a counter clock-wise dircction, viewed from the front of the engine. rl`he same reference characters indicatelike parts throughout the several ivures.

Referring to the drawings, t e engine casing, which is to be supported in any suitable manner, consists of an annular rim l and front and rear head `plates 2 and 3. rllhe rim is hollow and the annular chamber 4 is formed therein, provided as here shown with lower water inlet 5 and upperwater outlet 6, serves as a water jacket, although it may be used, if found desirable, as the pressure storage tank to which referenceis hereinafter made; and each of the two head plates bolted or otherwise secured to the rim, is oif'set centrally to form an inwardly projecting sleeve or hub which provides a. central air inlet 7 and an inner bearing 8, preferably concentric or substantially concentric With the casing, and an outer bearing 9 eccentric bot-h to the inner bearing and to'the casing. The casing also has, formed in each, head, an inwardly open ignition chamber or recess 10, above the hub,v into the wall of which is set spark plug 11,

and, below the hub, a chamber 12 which in the front head is an air-chamber and is provided with horizontally elongated inlet 13 and outlet 14 and in the rear head is an ex'- haust chamber having a horizontally elongated inlet 15, and circular threaded outlet 16 for an exhaust pipe. The casino' is further rovided, front and rear, with le t pressure inlet ports 17 and 18 and right pressure inlet ports 19 and 20, with right fuel inlet ports 21 and 22 and left .fuel inlet ports 23 and24,

, and lubricant inlet ports 25 and 26; and each of the fuel inlet ports is equipped with an injector or spraying device which, as shown,

is an ordinary needle valve comprising a hollow plug 27, with contracted orifice 28 controlled by an adjustable needle 29, and 1s screwed into the inlet port. I

The inner rotor of the engine, made up of a ring 30, with integral flanges projecting inwardly therefrom on elther side, and. of two annular plates 32 and 33,'both alike, which are set into annular recesses in the outer facesof the flanges and are there secured in place by screws or otherwise and are oifset inwardly to provide hubs 34, is mou-nted to rotate, on suitable rollerl or other bearings 35, upon the inner hub bearings 8 ofthe casing. It has, around its periphery, a se- I ries `of transverse cylindrical sockets 36,

which separate the ring proper betweenthe two flanges into sectlons and provide seats for' ing hubs and ear against the outer surface of the front and rear plates.

This rotor is connected with the main engine shaft 41 journaleid in a suitable thrust bearing 42 mounted on a bracket 43 on the back of the casing, by means of rods 44 which for convenience of manufacture'are riveted at one end in openings 45 alternately in the other of the two plates and at the other end fit into sockets 46 in the opposite plate and which pass vthrough openings 47 provided therefor in a flange 48 on the end of the shaft,

ythefiange sliding freely upon the rods so as to take up any end thrust on the shaft without transmitting it to the engine. A magneto drive shaft 49 is shown as keyed to the main shaft by oppositelyprojecting lugs 50 on its reduced end which fits into a correspondingly shaped socket 51 in the end of theshaft.

The outer rotor consists of a series of ring sections 52 whichare longitudinally grooved at 53 to increase their radiating surface and form between adjoining sections, paseriesof transverse cylindrical sorkets 54 corresponding in number and angular position to the similar sockets in the'perlphery of the inner lrotorand of two like annular plates 55 and 56 which are secured to the ring sections by screws and hold them in place and are offset outwardly around their inner edges to pro- Vide hubs 57 by which this rotor is mounted,

with roller bearings 58 separated by washers 59 from the similar bearings of the inner rotor,upon the outer bearings 9 on the casing hubs. Each plate has intersecting radial and circumferentail oil grooves 60 and 61 in its outer surface and a circular series of round openings 62 alternating with similar but smaller openings 63 which, front and rear, register with the ignition chambers, the

pressure, fuel, and lubricant inlet ports, and

the outlet from the air chamber and the inlet to the exhaust chamber in the heads of the casing.` v

The two rotors are operatively connected, so asv to rotate synchronously about their eccentric axes,'by means of skeleton split disks 64 which turn within the larger openings 62 in the sides of the outer rotor and upon the ends of studs 65 passing through holes 66 extending across the rim of the inner rotor, the kidney-shaped openings 67 in the disk: providing passages of substantially the same area as those provided by the smaller openings 103 and two outlet ports 104 and 105 in the 63; and the crescent-shaped chamber formed between the riIns of the rotors is divided into `wedge-shaped packing pieces72 mounted by tongue and groove connections to slide upon inwardly tapered edgesfare hinged' 'at-their inner ends to the inner rotor, by two segmental strips 73 fitting the sockets. of this' rotor and grooved on their inner faces to accommodate locking shoulders '74 on the vanes, and slide between plain segmental strips 75 fitted withpackings 76 and rocking in the sockets of the outer rotor. y

The control valve,'which is shown as mount ed upon the top of the engine easing but be located wherever found convenient, sists of a double plug 77 and of-two thirnbles 78 and 79, pr'vided with pedestals by which Y they are mounted lon the casing, within-j:he tapered wallslof which the tapered cnd'sbf the plug, adjustably secured front and'rearV b bolts 80 and 18].,set into the endsl of the p ug and provided with ad'usting nuts 82 and 83, are rocked by avalve lever 84 secured to the plug between the two thimbles. For a double control of the pressure system of the engine, the valve plugu has,bothfront and rear, two transverse grooves and connecting passage 85, 86, 87 and 88, 89, 90,'which are connected together by a longitudinal passage 91 and Whicheo-operate with an inlet port 92 and three outlet ports 93, 94, and 95 in the front thinible and with similar inlet and outlet ports 96, 97, 98, and99 in the rear thimble. The fuel systemis controlled through transversc grooves 100 and 101 in the front and rear portions of the plug,and these grooves,

connected together by a longitudinal assagc 102, co-opcrate respectively with an in et port front thnnblc and with. two outlet ports 106 and 107 in the rear thimble. eating system is similarly controlled through front and rear circumferential grooves 108.

and 109 in the plug,- with connecting longiti `nal passage 110, respectively` co-operating wi an elbow outlet port 111 in the front thimble and an inlet port `'112 and elbow outlet port 113 in the rear thiinble.

For the operation of the engine there are* o1? 115, and a lubricanttank 116-. The pressure storage taIik is connected by pipe-117 and branch pipes 118 and 119 to the .two inlet ports 92 and 960i the control valve and through the with the top of the lubricant tank byV pipe VAnd the lubrivalve outlet ports 94 and 98 to the left pressure inlet ports 17 and 18 or by pipes 124 and' 125 from the valve outlet ports95 and 99 to the right pressure inlet ports 19 and 20. The fuel tank, connectedwith the pressure storage tank as described, is connected to the control valve by pipe 126, leading to the valveA inlet port 103 and through `the valve either with the right side of the'engine by pipes 127 and 128 from the valve outlet fports 104 and 106 to the injectorsV in the front and rear fuel inlet ports 21 and 22 or with the left side of the engine by pipes 129 .and 130 from the valve outlet ports 105 and 107 to the injectors in the front and rear fuel inlet ports 23 and 24v. The lubricant tank is connected, in addition to its connection with the storage pressure ltank already described, with the control `.back of the engine by pipe 131 to the valve inlet port 112V and 4by pipes 132 and 133 y froinlthe valve outlet ports 111 and 113 to veand through it with both the front and the two lubricantinlet ports 25 and 26.

jWith the control lever lin central vertical `posit-ion, the'valveis closed and all the connections of the pressure, fuel, andv lubricant tanks witheahother and with the engine are cut olf (see'Figs. 245.) Upon turning the 4 control lever to the left (as viewed from the front of the engine), the'pressure tank is connected with the fuel and lubricant tanks and the three tanks are connected with the engine, the pressure tank with its left and the fuel tank with its right side (also asl .viewed from the' front), andthe engine will start to run in counter-clockwise direction. 0r' by turning the control lever to the right, the connections of the pressure and fuel tanks-with the y engine will beV reversed, that is toV say, will be made with the right and the left side of the engine respectively, While the connection. of the pressure tank with the fuel and lubricant tanks and of the latter with the engine will be as before, and the engine will run in a clockwise direction. i

The operation ofthe engine, which is the same inwhichever direction it is thus started, is as follows, taking 'for example the case where the control lever hasfbeen turned to the left and the'valve plug isfin the position illustrated in Fig. 8 :f'lhe airor other inert gas in the pressure tank is forcedvto the front and f rearpressure inlet ports in the left side of thct., 'engine audit-hence through a front and rear vided a pressure storage tank 114, a fuel tank opening 63 V(or disk vin opening 62 as the ease maybe) injthesidesof the outer rotor and radial groove 37 1n the sides and periphery of theinner rotorintobothend's ofthe explosion p cha'mber which` happens to be in register` valve to the top of the fueltank by pipe'j 120 leading' from the-*valve outlet port 93,vl

the engine 4counter'fclgxzkwse whereupon, as

the engine begins to turn, this explosion chamber passes out of, and the next and succeeding chambers pass into, register with the pressure inlet ports, and the vpressure of the air thus admitted to these chambers acts in the same way as in the first and accelerates the engine. Meanwhile, the gas from the fuel tank, under pressure from the pressure tank, has been sprayed by the injectors in the front and rear fuel inlet ports on the right side of the engine through openings (38 (or disks in opening 62) into the ends of first one and then another explosion chamber at a point in its cycle where the area ofthe chamber is close to maximum, and, as each chamber in turn passes out of register with these fuel inlet ports the explosive mixtureconfined therein is compressed by the drawing together of the rims of the two rotors until, at the top of the engine where compression is maximum, the compressed `charge is brought into communication with the ignition chambers, through the openings and grooves, and is exploded; and, as the first fuel charge is tired, the ignition chambers which are made wider than that part of the plates of the outer rotor between anopening 63 and theopeningin the adjacent disk,` permit a flashback into the next explosion chamber, thus rendering the furtheruse of the spark plugs unnecessary for the continued operation of the engine. Moreover, after'tlle firing of the fuel charges has begun the running of the engine is effected, as usual, by the expansion of the fuel charge first compressed and then iredrin' the successive explosion chambers while the pressure in the pressure storage tank is restored to and maintained on a balance with the pressure of the expanding products of combustion in the explosion chambers at the point in their cycle where they come in register with the pressure inlet ports. The'products of combustion are exhausted from the explosion chambers, after expanding therein to substantially atmospheric pressure, and the chambers are both cooled and scaveng'ed, by air which, throughout the operation of the engine, is drawn in from the outside to the interior of the inner rotor through the central air inlets 7 in the heads of the casing and is thence forced outwardly through the passages 7 0 in the vanes into the` crescent-shaped space formed between the rim of the outerrot-or and the casing where it is further compressed or forced onward by the projecting outer ends'of the vanes and is forced under compression tothe bottom of the engine through opening 13 intothe air-chamber 12 in the front casing head and through opening 14 into and through the explosion chambers as they come succes-l sively into register therewith and out through the opening 15 into the exhaust chamber having an outlet 16, leaving each exploslon chamber after passing the exhaust filled with fresh heated air. Furthermore during the entire operation ofthe engine, oil from the lubricant tank is forced under pressure from the pressure tank through the front and rear inlet ports in to the races of the roller-bearings of the rotors and thence into the radial and circumferential grooves in the plates of the outer rotor, where it forms an oil packing and between the platesof the inner and outer rotors and into the bearings of the Yanes, thus keeping the engine thoroughly lubricated without the use of the usual extraneous oi pump.

' Having explained the principle of my invention and illustrated and described what I now consider to be the best form of engine in which to embody. that principle, what I claim as new, and desire to secure broadly by Letters Patent, is-

1.V An internal combustion engine comprising two rotors mounted to rotate together one vwithin and eccentric to the other by means of disks turning in bearings in the sides of the outer rotor upon studs set in the rim of the inner rotor and radial vanes hinged in. the rim of one and sliding in bearings in the rim Vof the other rotor, forming a series of expanding and contracting chambers.

2. An internal combustion engine comprising two rotors mounted to rotate together one within and eccentric to the other and a series j stantially in said plane adjacent the axis of j vthe outer rotor.

3. An internal combustion engine comprising two rotors mounted to rotate together one within and eccentric to the other and radial vanes hinged in the rim of one and sliding in bearings in the rim of the other rotor,

forming a series of expanding and contract- Y ing chambers, meansfor supplying fuel to the chambers at a point either on one or the other side of a plane passing through the axes of the two rotors, means for tiring the charges within the chambers ata point substantially in said plane adjacent theaxis of the inner rotor, andan exhaust outlet connecting with the chambers at a point substantially in said plane adjacent the axisof the outer rotor.

4. An internal combustion engine compris- `ing two .rotors mounted to rotate together one within and eccentric to the other and radial vanes hinged in the rim of one and sliding in the rim of the other rotor, forming a series of expanding and contracting chambers, meansfor'admitting fuel to the said chambers on chamber when at said tiring point with the next succeeding chamber, and means for exhausting the chambers at a point substantlally 1n said plane adjacent the axis of the outer rotor.

5. An internal combustion engine comprisy ing two rotors mounted to. rotatetogether one Within and eccentric to the other andra4 dial vanes hinged inthe rim of one and. sliding in bearings in the other rotor,'forming a ,series of expanding and contracting Acham- "bers, means for supplying fuel to the chambers' at a point either on one or on the other. stile of a plane passing through the axesof theI two rotors, means for iringithe fuel charge within the chambers at a point substantially in said plane adjacent the axes of the inner rotor, passages connecting` each chamber when at said tiring point with the next succeedlng chamber on either side, and means for exhaustingthe chambers at a point substantially in said plane adjacent the axis of the outer rotor.

G. An internal combustion engine comprising two rotors mounted to rotate together one Within and eccentric to the other and radial Vanes with j'iassages extending from end to end hinged in the rim of one and sliding in bearings in the rim of the other rotor, forming a series of expanding and contracting chambers, and connections between a source ofcooling medium and the inner ends of the passages through the vanos.

7. An internal combustion engine compris -ing two rotors mounted to rotate together one withln and eccentric to the other and radial` ranes having passages extending from end to end and hinged 1n the rim of one and sliding 1u bearings 1n the rim of the other rotor,

' forminga series of expanding and contractling chambers, an exhaust port with which ing chambers, means for supplying an in ert gas under pressure to the chambers at a point on one side of a plane passing through the axes of the two rotors at which the area of the 4chambers is relatively small, means for supplying fuel to the chambers at a point on the opposite side of said plane at which the area 'of the chambers is relatively large, means for ring the fuel charges Within the chambers at Aa point substantially7 in said plane Where the area of the chambers is approximately minimum, andV means -for exhausting the products of combustion. from the chambers at a point substantially in said plane where the area of the chambers is approximately maximum.

9. An internal combustion engine comprising two rotors mounted to rotate together one `Within and eccentric to the .other and radial vaines hinged in theA rim of oneandfsliding in bearings in the rim of the other rotor,l forming a series off expanding and' contract;- ing chambers, Y means for supplying compressed air to the chambers at a point either on one side or the other of a plane passing through the axes of the two rotors Where the area ofv the chambers is relatively small, means for supplying fuel under pressure of the compressed air to the chambers at a point on the side of said plane opposite that side on which the compressed air is supplied Where the area of the chambers is relatively large, means for tiring the fuel charges Within the chambers at a point substantially in said plane adjacent the axis of the inner rotor, and means for exhausting the products of combustion. from the chambers at a point substantially in said plane adjacent the axis of the outer rot-or. j

.10. An internal combustion engine comprising two rotors mounted to rotate together one within and eccentric to the other and radial vanes hinged in the rim of one and sliding in bearings in the rim of the other rotor, forming a series of expanding and contracting chanibers, means for supplying compressed air to the chambers both from the front and from the back of the engine at a point either on one side or the other of a plane passing through the axes of the two rotors where the area of the chambers is rela tively small, means for supplying fuel under pressure of the compressed air to the chambers both from the back and from the front of the engine on the side of the plane opposite that side on which the compressed air is supplied Vwhere the area of the chambers is rela tively large, means for `tiring the fuel charges within the chambers at a point substantially in'said plane adjacent the axis of the inner rotor, and means for exhausting the products ofcombustion from the chambers at a point substantially in said plane adjacent the axis of the outer rotor.

11. An internal combustion engine comprising a casing, two rotors mounted therein to rotate together one within the other the inner rptor about an axis substantially concentric 'with the casing and the outer rotor about an axis eccentric both to the inner rotor and to the casing and radial vanes provided With passages extending from end to end hinged in the rim of one and sliding in bearings in the rim of the other rotor, forming `a series of expanding and contracting cham- 'under pressure of the compressed air to the chambers at a point on the side of said plane opposite that side on which the compressed air is supplied where the area of the chambers 'is relatively large, means for firing the fuel charges within the chambers at a point substantially in said plane-adjacent the axis of the inner rotor, means for exhausting the products of combustion from the chambers at a point substantially in Asaid plane adjacent the axis of the outer rotor, and means for connecting theinner ends of the passages in the vanes with the air outside the engine and the outer ends of said passages With the chambers at the point of exhaust. i

12. The combination in a rotary gas engine comprising a series of expanding and contracting chambers separated by radial walls thereof passages extending through said Walls from the inner to the outer ends thereof.

13. The combination in a rotary gas engine 4of a casing, two rotors mounted therein to rotate togetherone Within'and eccentric to the other, and a series of vanes hinged in one and sliding through packing bearings in the other rotor and having longitudinal passages connecting at one of .their two ends with a ,outer ends with the exhaust of the engine through the chambers formed by the vanes be-` tween the rims of the two rotors.

15. The combination in a rotary gas engine comprising a series of expanding and contracting chambers of means for supplying compressed air tothe successive chambers at a point on one side of the enUine to start the engine, means for supplying lfuel under pressure of the compressed air to the successive (hambers at a point on the opposite side of the engine, means for irin the fuel charge enclosed within the cham ers at a point in the cycle where their area is substantially at a minimum, and means for producing a back firing from the fuel charge red at such point into the next succeeding chamber.

16. The combination in a rotary gas engine comprising a series of-expanding and contracting chambers of means for supplying an inert gas under pressure to the chambers on one side of the engine at a point in the cycle Where their area is close to a minimum, and means both for supplying fuel to the chambers on the opposite side of the engine at r. point in the cycle Where their area is close to a maximum and for firing the fuel charge in said chambers at a point where their area is substantially at a minimum.

' 17. The combination in a rotary gas engine comprising'a series of expanding and contracting chambers of means .for supplying an inert gas under pressure to the chambers oneither side of the engine at a point in the at a minimum. of a cooling system comprislng as elements v 18. The combination in a roltary engine comprising a series of expanding and contracting chambers of means for supplying an inert gas under pressure to the engine, means for utilizing the expanded products of comu' bustion in the engine to maintain the pressure of said inert gas.

19. The combination in a rotary gas engine comprising a series of expanding and contracting chambers of means for supplying an inert gas under pressure to the engine, means for supplying both lubricant and fuel to th(` engine under pressure from said inert gas,l

and means for 'automatically' restoring and maintaining the pressure of said inert gas during the operation of the engine.

20. The combination in a rotary gas engine comprising a series of expanding and contracting chambers of means for supplying an inert gas under pressure to the engine to start the` same, means for supplying both lubricant land fuel to the engine under pressure Afrom said inert gas, and means' for maintaining the pressure of said inert gas at a parity With the pressure of the expanding products of fuel combination in the chambers at a point in the cycle of the engine at which the gas is supplied thereto.

21. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a series of rotary `expanding and contracting chambers of a source of supply of a compressed inert gas connected with the chambers successively at a point in the. cycle Where the areal of each is nea: the minimum and of a source of fuel supply connected with the chambers successively at a. point in the -cycle where the area of each is.

near the maximum and of. means for firing the fuel charge in the chambers successively at a point in the chambers successively at a point iritlie cycle where the area of each is at substantially the minimum.

22. `In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a series of-rotary expanding and contracting chambers 'of a pressure tank, a fuel tank, and connections from the pressure tank both to the fuel tank and to the chambers successively at a point in the cycle where the area of each is closeA to a minimum and from the fuel tank to the chambers successi-vely at a point in the cycle where the area of each is close to a maximum.

23. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a series of rotary eXpand` ing and contracting chambers of a pressure tank, afuel tank, connections from the pressure tank both to the fuel tank and to the chambers on opposite sides of the engine at points in the cycle where the area is close to a minimum and from. the fuel tank also to i chambers on both sides of the engine at a point in the cycle where their area is close to a maximum, and means for controlling said connections to start and run the engine in y either direction.

24. In an internal combustion engine, the combination with a series of rotary expanding and contracting chambers, of a pressure tank, a fuel tank, and connections from the pressure tank to the fuel tank and to the chambers on opposite side of the engine at points in the cycle where their area is close to'a minimum and from the fuel tank to chambers on opposite sides of the engine at points in the cycle where their area is close to a maX imum,said connections being through "a control valve adapted to simultaneously open the connection between the pressure tank and Y pression, a fuel tank, and suitably controlled connections from the pressure tank both to Jche fuel tank and to the successive chambers at a point on one side of theengine and from the fuel tank to the successive chambers at a point on the opposite side of the engine.

26. The combination in a rotary gas engine comprising a series of expanding and contracting chambers of a pressure tank adapted to containa supply of a suitable gas under compression., a fuel tank, connections from the pressure tank both tothe fuel tank and to the successive chambers at points on both sides of the engine and from the fuel tank to the successive chambers atl points on both sides of the engine, and control means adapted to open the connections from the pressure tank to the fuel tank and to the chambers oneither one of the two sides of the engine and from the fuel tank to the chambers on the opposite side of the engine.

27. The combination in a rotary gas .eni yunder compression, a. fuel tank, connections from the pressure tankV both to the fuel tank and to the successive chambers at points on both sides of the engine, and a single control valve adapted to simultaneously open the connection between the'two tanks and the connections between one tank and therchambers on one side and between the other tank and the chambers on the opposite side of the engine.

28. The combination in a rotary gas engine comprising a series of expanding rand contracting chambers of a pressure tank adapted to contain a supply of a suitable gas under compression, a fuel tank, a lubricant tank, connections from the pressure tank to both fuel' and lubricant tanks and to the chambers at points o n both sides of the engine and from the lubricant tank to the engine and from the Yfuel tank to the chambers at pointson bothsides of the engine, and control means for opening said connections from the pressure tank to the fuel and lubricant tanks and from the pressure tank to the chambers on either one of the two sides of the engine and from the fuel tank to the chann bers on the opposite sides of the engine.

29. The combination in a rotary gas engine comprising a series of expanding and contracting chambers of a pressure tank adapted to contain a supply of a suitable gas, a fuel tank, a lubricant tank, connections from the pressure tank to both fuel and lubricant tanks and to the front'and rear of the chambers at points on both sides of the engine and from the lubricant tank to the front and rear of the engine and from the fueltank to the front and rear of the chambers at points on both sides of the engine, and control means for opening said connections from the presy sure tank to the fuel and lubricant tanks and from the pressure tank to the chambers on either one of the twosides of the engine and from the fuel tank to the chambers on the opposite side of the engine. V` 30. A rotary' engine including two rotors eccentrically mounted, overlapping ring porions carried by the respective rotors, vanes engaging the rotors and dividing the spaces between the ring portions of the rotors into a series of laterally expanding and contracting chambers, each vane including a tapered edge surface and a wedge shaped packing member having an angular-ly inclined portion slid'- ably engaging said tapered surface and so arranged as to slide on said surface and expand the vane laterally underthe inuence of centrifugal force incident to rotation of the engine.

31, An internal combustion engine including tWo rotors eccentrically mounted, overlapping ring portions carried by the respective rotors, vanes engaging the rotors to divide the space betweenthe rotors into a series of alternately expanding and contracting chambers, a projection carried by one rotor, means engaged by the projection and carried by and movable with respect to the other rotor to synchronize the rotation of the rotors.

32. An internal combustion engine includz ing two rotors, ring portions carried by the ing two rotors eccentrically mounted, each rotor including al ring portion, the-ring portions overlapping radially of the axes of the rotors, generally radial vanes engaging the overlapping portions so as to divide the space between therotors into a Series of alternately i expanding and contracting chambers, each vane arranged to expand under the influence of centrifugal force for sealing said chambers lupon rotation of the rotors.

34. An internal combustion engine com-` prising two eccentricallymounted rotors,`

overlapping ring portions carried by the respective rotors, generally radial vanes engaging the overlapping ring portions to divide the space between the overlapping port-ions into a series of alternately expanding and contracting chambers, eachd vane comprised of a plurality of pieces and having a passage substantially from end to end communicating with the interior of one rlng portion, means for conducting a cooling medium to sald 1nterior of the ring portion, the arrangement being such that rotation of the rotors causes centrifugal force to simultaneously expand said vanes to ciect a packing seal and forces said cooling medium to pass longitudinally through said vanes to impel the cooling medium through said conducting means.'

35. A rotary internal combustion engine, including eccentric rotors and slidable vanes comprising a series of alternately expanded and contracting chambers, means forexhausting burnt gases from the chambers and Scav- -A enging with fresh air at a point substantially near the plane 4passing through the axes of the rotors Where the chambers approximate maximum expansion, means for injecting fuel into the chambers serially between the point of scavenging and pointl of maximum coitraction, means for firing the charges in the chambers serially at approximately their point of maximum contraction,.and means for utilizing the chamber pressures at a point of higher pressure than the point of fuel injection for effecting the fuel injection.

In Witness whereof, I, the said'HERnERT A. BULL'ARD, have hereunto set my hand at Philadelphia, county ofPhiladelphia, and State of Pennsylvania, this 20th day vof February.

" HERBERT A, BULLARD 

